BRISKET?::

Chanukah favorites from young Jewish culinary entrepreneurs (Ethel G. Hofman, Dec. 5, 2002, Jewish World Review)

It used to be many a Jewish parent's dearest wish that his or her offspring would grow up to be a doctor or lawyer. In the 21st century, that's no longer true. Celebrity chefs, sexy and large as life on television, have boosted the culinary profession to incredible new heights. To aspire to the position of executive chef is a worthy and admirable goal.

All across the country, young Jewish men and women are making their mark in the field of food. [...]

The following recipes are generous in use of oil and dairy products, making each a fitting dish for the the eight days of Chanukah. Dishes fried or cooked with oil symbolize the miracle of the untainted, one-day supply of oil found in the ransacked First Temple in Jerusalem - and which burned for eight days instead on one. [...]

AMY BETH'S CHANUKAH SHORTBREAD COOKIES (DAIRY)

Makes 15 to 20 cookies

* 1/2 lb. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
* 1 cup confectioners sugar
* 2 tsps. vanilla extract
* 2 1/2 cups cake flour
* 1/2 tsp. baking powder
* 1/2 tsp. salt
* blue sanding sugar to sprinkle

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.

Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside. In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar until fluffy (about 3 minutes). Gradually add the flour mixture and mix well. Chill dough for 1 hour. Roll out on a floured board to about 1Ú4-inch thick. Cut out with Star of David or dreidel cookie cutters. Dust with blue sugar.

Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, until slightly brown at edges. Cool slightly before removing to wire rack.

One of the hardest parts of marrying into a Jewish family--besides their nearly universal and unwavering belief that all Republicans are evil--is that, with the exception of the obligatory send-out Chinese, most of the food is pretty rank. Hanukah is the one exception though, particularly the latkes. One has to strongly approve of a holiday that celebrates the deep-frying of potatoes. (Much better than Purim, which seems to involve the exaltation of goldfish).
Posted by Orrin Judd at December 5, 2002 1:02 PM